"The Barbican"

No. 34 - 1958

Loaned by John Hart - Edited by Maurice Hobden

HIS issue
marks the beginning of the final period of the Bradshaw era.
The foundations of the chapel are laid and building is about to
begin. The Chapel Fund has the bulk of the finance in hand and
there are no doubts that the rest will be found. Mr Bradshaw has
only two years before retirement and he is determined to achieve
his objective before he goes.

Meanwhile the school generally is an educational power-house
in top gear with a wide range of activities and achievements that
make the early days of the school look very cloistered and
reserved. Why is that so ? Undoubtedly the general expansion of
education, in parallel with the growth in prosperity and the
needs of the country, has provided much greater financial
resources. That is only part of the explanation; the rest was the
men of vision and application to direct and control those
resources to achieve the desired results. That was what NRB and
his close associates were providing.

At this stage it is likely that NRB was still able the believe
that his grammar school would continue as such, in spite of
disturbing trends in the demand for policies to provide a better
quality of education for all children, but it was not to be. His
final achievements were to be overtaken by events outside his
control.

EDITORIAL

THIS last year will be remembered as the year that saw the
beginnings of work on the Chapel. The fruits of many years of
labour will soon be seen. Although there may be controversy in
the upper strata of the school over the concept of a divine
being, it can truthfully be said that the laying of the
foundation stone was of significance to all, Existentialist,
believer or agnostic, all will be influenced directly or
indirectly by our Chapel. To the aesthete it will be a place of
beauty, to the contemplative it will be a place for meditation,
and to the believer it will be a place of worship. But above all
and in the minds of all it will stand as a memorial to those old
boys who made the supreme sacrifice in the defence of freedom.

The Chapel, when completed, will change the life and
appearance of the school which have been little changed over the
last year. We have only seen the bleak inhospitable "Medways"
erected - and we can hardly be rapturous about them. The cement
mixers have ceased their churnings but the respite is to be
short, for work on the new hall will begin shortly - welcome news
for the school's actors. With a proper stage, the school play
should return as a feature of life here and the frantic efforts
at amateur wood-work that precede the House plays will become
just amusing memories. So with these future benefits in mind we
must patiently endure the disruption - welcome to some perhaps -
that will be caused.

But, of course, this new hall will be merely a structural
change. The life of the school will go on much as before. There
will be successes such as those of our lst XV this year, and
there will be some failures, sent perhaps "pour encourager les
autres." Boys will come here, work, play, and occasionally slack.
They will come as individuals and as such they can make an
impression on school life, an impression more firm than any new
hall can make: for despite what our professional cynics may say
we believe in the importance and intrinsic value of the
individual. In an age of automation and in an age when "clever"
men try to apply the slide-rule to human va1ues we boldly salute
the individual with all his virtues, failings and feelings. May
this school continue to serve and value him. For ultimately it is
he and not your tin computer, who can shape the world and create
that priceless jewel, happiness.
M.R.W. and P.E.

SCHOOL NOTES

THE laying of the foundation stone of the School Chapel on
October l8th, 1958, in the presence of about 1,200 parents and
Old Boys, is an event which commands first mention. The boys,
too, were there. None asked to be excused, although it was a
Saturday afternoon.

The Chapel Fund now stands at about £22,000. There
remains a sum af about £3,000 to raise to cover fees,
furnishings, etc. The completion date is January, 1960 - a
challenge.

From the inception of the fund we have always published
details in the School Magazine. About £5,000 has been
subscribed since last year. To record all gifts, large and sma1l,
would occupy so much space that we hope omission on this occasion
will be understood and excused. We feel compelled, however, to
comment on the magnificent support of everyone.

The following former members of the school went into residence
at Oxford or Cambridge last October. At Cambridge : P.E.Britton,
State Scholar and Exhibitioner (St. John's). R.C.Adams, State
Scholar (St. Catharine's). J.S.Lohoar (FitzWilliam).
D.McLaughlin, Exhibitioner (Jesus). D.Shrubb State Scholar and
Open Scholar (Christ's). J.A.Wilkinson, State Scholar and
Exhibitioner (FitzWilliam). P.C.Wright, State Scholar (Trinity).
At Oxford: C.Davey, State Scholar (Keble). K.Geering, State
Scholar (New College), C.Jenkins, State Scholar and Open Scholar
(Magdalen). D.Tisdall (Keble). J.A.Towner, State Scholar and
Exhibitioner (Brasenose). In addition, Brian Honess, who took his
degree last June in Horticulture at Reading, has gone into
residence at Downing College, Cambridge. He has secured an
appointment in the Colonial Service and is at Cambridge under the
auspices of the Colonial Office. The above list will probably
stand as a record for a long time. We were fortunate this year in
being included in the analysis of the most successful schools
made by The Times Educational Supplement.

In The Times New Year list of promotions to senior ranks, we
spotted the names of two Old Boys, Brian Colvin and Geoffrey
Ford, both promoted from Squadron Leader to Wing Commander in the
RAF. Gerald Cook completed his Senior Officers' Naval Course in
Canada last sumnser and ended with a European tour which included
a visit to Tito and an audience of the Pope. He is now in command
of the Second Training Squadron at Portland, seven ships, which
he feared he might tie up in knots the first time he took them
into the Channel. Ken Perkins has finished at the Staff College
at Quetta, and as we write, is on his way home.

Reverting to academic honours, David Morgan is to be
congratulated on his "First" at Magdalen, Oxford, last June. He
is now reading for the D.Phil. degree but still has a room in
Magdalen where he does some tutoring.

Our record of scholarship successes during the past year has
been creditable but not quite so good as in the immediate past.
Since the last publication of The Barbican, John Wilkinson has
been awarded an Exhibition in Modern Languages at FitzWilliam
House, Cambridge, and State Scholarships have been won by
A.D.Moore, Rabin Fleet and Peter Randall. John Drake was placed
on the "reserve" list. Moore is now at London University, while
Fleet (St. John's), Randall (St. John's) and Drake (Gonville and
Caius) have places awaiting them at Cambridge. Roger Bray is also
going to FitzWilliam House, Cambridge, next October and Tony
Killick to Wadham College, Oxford.

For the second time in the past five years an Old Boy has been
selected for the highly competitive Foreign Service. Christopher
Howells, after a "First" at Oxford, gained admission last May. He
is now learning Chinese. He joins Ian Winchester, who was in the
Embassy at Cairo during the Suez crisis. Winchester had to learn
Arabic when he first joined.

A small point to some but pleasing to the writer of these
notes nonetheless. In the same issue of The Times which recorded
the promotion of Ford and Colvin, it was nice to read the names
of five members of this year's School XV in the Sussex
Schoolboys' side which beat Berkshire. Three of them were singled
out for good work. Nick Silk has now been picked for England
against France and Wales. Congratulations.

With regret we have said good-bye to Mr.Mould, Mr.Lee,
Mr.Cosham and Mr.Williamson. We thank them deeply for all the
work they did for the school while they were with us. The life of
the Grammar School depends on voluntary service. We welcome in
their place Mr.Pratt, Mr.Matthews and Mr.Small. We hope that
their stay will be happy and rewarding.

THE SCHOOL CHAPEL

A SERVICE FOR THE LAYING OF THE FOUNDATION STONE
THE SCHOOL MEMORIAL CHAPEL
Saturday, 18th October, 1958

THE laying af the
Foundation Stone was performed by Lady Boughey, wife of Sir
George Boughey, Bart., formerly Chairman of the Governors, and
mother of a present Governor, Mr. Richard Boughey, in the
presence of a large gathering of Governors and pupils, Old Boys,
parents and masters. After weeks of wet weather the afternoon was
dry and still. The principal participants were all impressive in
sincerity and the whole ceremony was quietly moving. Pupils, Old
Boys, parents and friends gathered at the site and a procession
of principals, governors and masters having assembled at the main
school entrance, joined them there. The stone was given by the
family of a present pupil in memory of his grandfather, the late
Mr. Percy Bridgman.

[There follows a three-page order of service for the laying of the foundation stone.]

PRESS COMMENTThe following editorial comment appeared in The Times Educational
Supplement of lst August, 1958.

Lewes's Chapel

"One of the best examples of self-help in a maintained school
is reported on another page. By corporate endeavour Lewes County
Grammar School is getting itself a chapel. Some people think that
voluntary effort is good for no more than the most minor projects
in local authority schools. This chapel, like the swimming baths
which are now almost commonplace, should give the lie to them.
The achievement itself is splendid. But its benefits will go
deeper still. One of the dangers of the Welfare State among its
many advantages is that people will take its services for
granted. The parents are all too common who assume that the local
authority school exists for their convenience. They look at it as
they look at the grocer's shop or the cinema - a place where good
service can be assumed or complaints can be lodged if it is not.
In the long run this never makes for a good school. Local
authority schools have before them constantly the example of the
best of the public schaols. They ought to rival them. It is no
bad thing if they, too, like the public schoo1s, make demands on
those they serve And a maintained school may feel that it begins
to have true parity with older institutions when all who have to
do with it look upon it not only as their property but also as
their pride. Why so few of them have shown the enterprise of
Lewes is difficult to understand. If anything can bind a school
to its neighbourhood it is surely some big communal project. In
fact the more a school depends on its parents and pupils and the
less it takes from the rates the healthier it probably will
be."

SPEECH DAY - JULY 24th, 1958

ONCE again the ceremony took place in the evening. This time
the hall was packed and there was not enough room for all the
parents, some of whom had to listen to the speeches relayed to
the quadrangle. We welcomed Lt.Col. Styles and our other
Governors and we were fortunate to have as our speaker, Mrs.
M.E.Lomas She gave us a most stimulating speech and then
distributed the prizes. When all was over tea was served to
parents in the quadrangle, where they had an opportunity to meet
members of the staff.

SUCCESSES

GENERAL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATIONADVANCED OR SCHOLARSHIP LEVEL IN TWO OR MORE SUBJECTS
(Subject names denote Distinctions)

CROSS-COUNTRY FINAL - 1958

THE weather was about as good as one can expect it to be for a
cross-country final. There was a light north-westerly breeze but
few people were deterred by this.

From the start all looked perfect. However, when the
mud-spattered runners returned it was evident that the main
obstacle had been flooding of the low grazing land on the other
side of the course. This, as most competitors know, can be
particularly unpleasant to run through and claimed its score of
plimsolls. However, the ditches themselves by all accounts were
not particularly bad.

Penfold ran a good race and perhaps not unexpectedly came in
first of the seniors. The winners of the Colts and Juniors races
were Hughes and Coney - all three boys being in Seahaven House.
However, on the total score Martlets were first with 1,158
points; Seahaven second with 1,047; Uckfield third with 1,034 and
last came Lewes with only 586 points.

COMBINED CADET FORCE

DURING the past year there have been a number of changes in the
training policy laid down by the War Office. The biggest of these
changes is undoubtedly the disappearance of Certificate A. This
is not quite as drastic as it might appear since the examinations
remain but under new names. In future all cadets will enter the
Basic Section and will take the Basic Test in their fourteenth
year. On passing the Basic Test cadets will pass into the Army or
R.A.F. Section and train for the Proficiency Test and Advanced
Test. This training will normally cover three to four years. For
senior cadets a number of schemes have been suggested for Post
Advanced training. Where numbers are small it has been suggested
that this training shou1d be for a joint services section. With
these changes in mind we are gradually introducing new topics to
the training syllabus. One innovation is in keeping with the War
Office policy of regarding the C.C.F. as a source of potential
officers. The Joint Services Cadet Badge will be regarded as an
indication that a cadet is worth considering for a place at
Sandhurst or Cranwell. Now that the services are worth while
considering as a career particularly for those who are
technically minded, the C.C.F. can provide a good pre-service
background.

We welcome this temm Mr.D.Matthews, who is going to help with
the R.A.F. training; we wish him a successful and pleasant stay
with us.

This year's annual camp was attended by a smaller number than
in previous years and in spite of the inclement weather a
reasonably good programme of training was carried out. We were
fortunate in having an annual camp as most of the other camps in
the country were canceIled owing to the political situation in
Jordan. It is possible that in future the large camps for annual
training will be discontinued and replaced by smaller camps of a
more specialist nature.

The miniature range has, as usual, been a popular feature, and
it is hoped that a team will enter for the Country Life Schools
Competition. Now that we have instituted a qualifying points
system it is up to every cadet to see that he earns sufficient
points to qualify and make the most of his annual allocatian of
ammunition.

As a further incentive to training we have introduced a badge
for efficiency. This badge has been awarded to Cdts. Botting,
Izzard and Welch.

Finally, in closing, I would say one word to all those who are
considering joining the C.C.F. No organisation such as this can
function properly unless it receives an adequate supply of
recruits, so it is up to you to join in and make it a
success.
A. J. HALL.

R.A.F. SECTION

AS a result of a major policy in cadet training, the Royal Air
Force Proficiency Examination has been replaced by the Army Part
II exam. This means in effect that we shall play a lesser part in
the training of the younger cadets, though the advanced
examination is unchanged.

It is difficult to be enthusiastic over a scheme which tends
to limit our activities, but as this is a period of trial and
experiment we must give it our full support. The R.A.F section
cadets have responded excellently and I trust that those cadets
who hope to transfer to the R.A.F. Section in the future will be
undeterred. The opportunities available to proficient cadets are
well worth striving for.

We offer our congratulations to David Ayrton, who is now well
advanced in his training as a pilot in the Fleet Air Arm.

A most enjoyable Easter camp was held at R.A.F. Debden in
Essex, where, in camping with cadets from Lewisham School, part
of our activities were televised by the B.B.C. Enough flying was
done to satisfy most appetites including some night flying in
Chipmonk and Varsity aircraft. We were once again honoured by a
visit from the A.O.C. 61(s) Group, Air Vice-Marshall Gorbally,
who inspected the cadets.

A new Air Experience Scheme has been started which allows each
cadet a minimum of 30 minutes dual control flying in Chspmonk
aircraft. The R.A.F. Section went to historic Biggin Hi11 this
month to avail themselves of the scheme but unfortunately the
weather conditions were too bad to permit flying.

During the summer, cadets Hodson, Firth and Armstrong attended
the Radio Familiarisation Course at R.A.F. Locking, and Corporal
Poll and Cadet Firth gained Gliding Proficiency Certificates at
R.A.F. Hawkinge.

We are indebted to Mr. David Matthews, who is giving valued
assistance to the Cadet Corps, to Mr. Page for his services as
lecturer in meteorology and to our Liaison Officer, Flight-Sgt.
Kevin, who does so much on our behalf.
K.J.C.

SCOUT TROOP

AFTER the strenuous year of 1957, when we celebrated the
centenary of B.P.'s birth, 1958 has had few striking occasions to
compare with it.

The ordinary work of the troop has continued, and we are
pleased to welcame Mr. Gibbons as our new A.S.M. Last year our
increased numbers were maintained with the great help of John
Wilkinson, aided by Jack Sinden. We wish them well in their
university careers. John Wild, the new troop leader is already
fi1ling the gap they have left.

The seniors, under the eye of Mr. Ives, have begun to take
root, and are making for a home of their own. Sailing continues
to be one of their main activities, and both patrol leaders
should soon have a Charge Certificate for boating. It is with
deep regret that we announce that Sandy's Folly, our first boat,
is now on the retired list. A second senior patrol, the Hunt, has
been formed, with John Back as patrol leader. Alastair Perry has
taken over Hilary from John Norman, who did much of the initial
spade work with the seniors.

Treefelling has been another activity, and we thank Mr. Page,
Mr. Wild and Mr. Ketchell far giving us the opportunity of
fe1ling at Buxted, at Haywards Heath and at Falmer.

The troop represented the Lewes District in the county camping
competition, where under the leadership of Godfrey Howard, we
came sixth out af twenty-five entrants, and the patrol gained a
pennant. This was a most encouraging result.

Pioneering featured a good deal in the summer programme when
we bridged the Cookshoot or rafted on it. The latter as only
successful on a high spring tide, we discovered

We have to thank Mr. Webb, who has now given us two courses of
first-aid instruction for the First Aider and Ambulance Man
Badge.

Camp this year was held on the outskirts of Romsey, on part of
the estate which formerly belonged to Florence Nightingale. We
had seven patrols in camp, which somewhat stretched our
resources. The camping competition was won by the Owls under
Robert Sinden. Their kitchen was obviously brought from the Ideal
Home Exhibition, recreated in hazel and sisal! The patrols made
their usual day hikes. The enterprising Beavers went off to
Southampton and enjoyed Edward Lear's water colours in the
gallery. McAllom, who accompanied us to Devon in 1956, and John
White were welcome additions to our staff. The standard of
cooking remained high and each patrol produced roast beef from
its own oven. Camp fires (pace Mr. Eastman) were enjoyable
events, and we had the Seniors of Romsey as our guests one
evening as some compensation for the rough treatment they
received during a wide game. Perhaps the most memorable chant was
that curious and traditional tune entitled "The Cow Kicked
Nelly". One of the greatest achievements of camp was the damming
of the stream. This resulted in an excellent swimming pool for
the local peaple as well as ourselves. The fishermen, too, seemed
pleased with the result. The farmer thought it might take the
Conservancy Board a fortnight to move !

Our thanks are due to parents, from whom we receive great
help, and to the Group Committee. The meetings of the Committee
have been most successful - no one has threatened to resign, and
the work of preparing for the Christmas Dance has gone
smoothly.
D.L.S.

SCHOOL SOCIETY

Chairman - - MR A.H.F.KNIGHT
Secretary - - P. SUTHERLAND

AS is usual in the New Year the new chairman, Mr. Knight,
started the session with a film. here was a slight break in
tradition in that the film was a semi-documentary called "Land
and Live in the Jungle". The film at least ensured that the
audience, should they be so unfortunate as to crash in the
jungle, could survive.

We were very honoured to receive as outside speaker two Old
Boys - the Norris brothers - designers of Sir Donald Campbell's
Bluebird. After an extremely interesting explanatory talk
by Ken Norris and a coloured film of Bluebird's record-breaking
runs, Len Norris answered numerous questions from an enthralled
audience.

After such erudite speakers the "motorised" members of staff,
Messrs. Euston, Gibbons, Page and Mould emerged with flying
colours when they answered many enquiries from the audience
following a film of the 1951 Monte Carlo Rally.

The boys, however, had their say, in some cases limited, when
a competition for "Top House" was run on the lines of the radio
prograxnme "Top of the Form". Although Lewes Seniors and Martlets
Juniors eventually emerged as winners, it was a close fight to
the end.

The 1957-58 session terminated with the School Concert - only
this year the word Concert covered a variety of items. The
programme ranged from Skiffle groups to skits on various members
of Staff. It can at least be said that the term ended on a
boisteraus note.

A new policy was promulgated at the start of the autumn term.
It was decided to limit membership of School Society to members
of the Thirds, Fourths, Removes and the Fifths. It was further
decided to re-establish the original aim of the Society to cater
for all interests.

The first meeting certainly attracted a large proportian of
the scientists to hear Mr.R.G.Andrews give a lecture on "Stars
and Planets". His lecture was amply illustrated with slides, and
I am sure that members now cast a more appreciative eye towards
the evening sky.

Since the spring term "Top House" competition, the boys had
been urging the chairman to pit a team of boys against a team of
masters in a "battle of wits". It was decided to run it on the
lines of the TV programme "Ask Me Another", and it wasn't until
the last round that the masters managed to gain supremacy.

A talk on "Nigeria" by Mr. Jefferies af the Imperial Institute
only attracted a small but select audience, but no doubt these
members will view Geography in a different light after a very
informative lecture.

The term was well rounded off with The House Plays, now a well
established item, in the school year. These Plays arouse great
interest, especially as some are now written by the boys. Only
three Plays were produced this year and one of those was not an
original work.

Martlets produced Walton's Play, "The Rev. Camillo and the
Liberal Young Man", well described by the author as "a Play af
exaggerations". The cast was: Tibble, Jones, Sutherland, Swan,
Thorpe, Greenland and Browning.

And for Lewes, Allen adapted Sheridan's "The Scheming
Lieutenant", with Noel, Silk, Allen, Welford, Hoggins and Newnham
in the cast.

The whole programme of Plays was thoroughly entertaining, but
those present will probably remember Baker's Scottish accent most
of all.

And so another year of the School Society has ended. Let us
hope that next year will be equally if not more successful.
A.H.F.K.

SIXTH FORM SOCIETY

SPRING TERM, 1958
Chairman - - - Mr. Pope
Secretary - - - R. Fleet

THE meetings this term were only moderately well attended, but
praise must go to the Lower Sixth, who participated well. It was
hoped that an outside speaker might be brought to the Society at
the end af term, but unfortunately this could not be arranged and
five main meetings only were held.

The term began with the customary "snap" debates in which
topics discussed ranged from "the use of animals in missile
research" to "sex appeal". A "record" evening was very well
attended and as usual proved a great success. Generally the
records were well introduced and an equable balance between light
and serious music was maintained. In a formal debate the motion
"That the abolishment of National Service is a good thing" was
narrowly defeated. Our last Friday meeting, a Brains Trust,
produced some livaly discussion. Mr. Hoggins and Mr. Stevens of
the Staff kindly acted as two of the Brains. Finally, on March
7th, after two rehearsals, we had a Play-reading at the Girls'
School, where we were treated to an excallent tea and an
enjoyable evening's entertainment. The Play chosen was "Our
Town", by Thornton Wilder, and eleven members of our Society
participated.
R.J.F.

AUTUMN SESSIONChairman - - Mr. Gourlay
Secretary - - P. Randell

A member of the science staff was invited to be Chairman this
term, an office for long held by members of the "other side" of
the staff. Under the Chairmanship of Mr. Gourlay, the senior
chemistry master, five meetings were held. Three were of the
"traditional" nature, the perennial snap debate, "Rags on the
rack", which was in essence a discussion of the national daily
press and a "Coger" evening, in which the discussion centred
mainly round literature, war and Christmas.

The Society did, however, produce two novel meetings: on the
one hand a lecture on astronomy delivered by Mr.R.G.Andrews of
The Royal Astronomical Society at a meeting held in conjunctian
with the School Society, and in complete contrast a mock trial,
brash, slapstick, which proved thoroughly entertaining.

This last-mentioned meeting was attended by Sixth Formers from
the Girls' School, who have recently proposed the formation of a
joint committee to forge closer links between our two Sixth
Forms. This would lead to more joint meetings. They seem to be
the only meetings that attract good numbers of the Lower Sixth
who with very few exceptions have given little support to the
Society during this session.
P.R.

HISTORY SOCIETY

SINCE the last report, the Society has flourished exceedingly and
membership has remained encouragingly high even though attendance
at some of the meetings has been all too small.

As usual the main event af the year was the expedition in the
spring. This year a party of more than twenty of us set off for
Yorkshire. We spent our first night at Lincoln, where we linked
up with Mr. Flambard Stevens. There seemed to be two things of
special note to see in this great city. Firstly the cathedral in
all its majesty; secondly the museum of arms, armour and general
historical material. The first is too famous to need my praises;
the second provided a very interesting hour in spite of the
attention of an over eager local reporter who kept follawing us
about asking for strange information and taking even stranger
photagraphs. In the museum we saw a suit of armour made for a
near-giant and a collection of immense swords of truly appalling
potentialities.

The next morning we set off for York, stopping to see Selby
Abbey on the way. This lovely structure, which is soon to be the
home of Epstein's cyclopean anthropoid is in rather poor shape
externally with muah of the stonework disintegrating. None the
less it has quite magnificent purity of line.

After lunch we went on to York, where we stayed the secand
night. We saw the great minster early the next morning before the
crowds of tourists had had a chance to work their disruptive
spell upon the ethos of the place. There were many, I feel, who
felt that this was the most splendid thing of the whole trip.

After this we set out in a hired coach across the vales and
moors to Whitby. On the way we saw Byland Abbey, soft in the
early sun and dew, Rievaulx - one of the most splendid ruins in
all Europe, and Lastinghaan, which has been so exquisitely
restored.

We arrived at the hostel at Whitby in the evening (Why was
Mr.Gem not a proper member? That would be fifteen shillings,
please). It is right beside the wind-seared Abbey on the hill and
made most of us feel that some spiritual masochism must have
driven the monks to build in such a position.

Walton (VI A), the doyen of the Society, who had, thanks to
drugs, survived the coach trip without being ill, now
distinguished himself by hearing a ghost. This may have been due
to the supper or to the rather more aesthetica1ly damaging
effects of Whitby Parish Church - a mixture of Calvinist
horse-boxes and pseudo strawberry Gothic with a caretaker who
looked like a rather seedy edition of a Scottish minor
prophet.

But to return to the ghost. It didn't call again even though
Walton and P.G.A.G. courted disaster by trying out second-hand
Benedictine coffins left conveniently in the Abbey grounds.

Next day the party split up. Some went on the moors, some
disappeared without trace, same pottered about Whitby which,
given 30 degrees more on the thermometer, might be a pleasant
place. The trip ended the next evening after a very cosy but
rather lengthy journey back.

The other major expedition of the year was a trip in high
summer to see Salisbury Cathedral i1luminated. We set off at
lunch time and got there easily at 5 p.m. in time to attend a
recital in the cathedral. The lights were switched on about 10
p.m. and the golden radience of the great nave and spire against
the deepening night was almost a spiritual experience.

In a similar vein earlier on in the year we had written to the
Abbot of Cowfold, who had kindly agreed to allaw a party to see
round the monastery. We arrived in time for Vespers at 10.30 a.m.
and were then shown round by the guest master. As one of the
monk's cell was empty, we got a very fair conception of the
surroundings in which the Carthusian spends his solitary, hard
life.

Apart from a party of brass-rubbers operating in the district
who are due to report to the Society next term, the other
meetings have been in the school. There have been two films
shown, "Henry V" and "The Iron Duke". Two discussions have been
held on the interpretations and use af history. A series of talks
were given on assassinatians of note, Buckingham, William the
Silent and Coligny being disposed of by Messrs. Walton, Stevens
and Webb.

We also had an interesting and thoughtful series on famous
Archbishops, Becket, Laud, Benson and Wolsey, dealt with by
Messrs. Webb, Walton, Stevens and Gem respectively.

Altogether the best year we have had, I feel.
P.G.A.G.

AESTHETICS SOCIETY

WHEN I wrote the first report last year, the affairs of the
Society were on the crest of the wave. Attendance was high, the
best brains of both the arts and science sides were virtually
always in attendance. Everything seemed well.

Those who went off to the Universities last sumtner are now,
of course, no longer able to play their part in the Society and
there remain only a few who seem now to feel that the Society is
worth their attention. Of the present V Forms, again only a few
come.

Why? There are probably a good many answers to this, but
although it might be instructive to hold a post mortem on the
reasons for the fall off this term, it would take too long and I
would rather look to the future. But first a resume of the
meetings of the last year.

We showed that admirable film "Monsieur Vincent". We read
Macbeth at school and with some invaluable help from the Girls'
School this was a really good evening. In the summer we read
Samson Agonistes at Southover Church with Tibble (VI) in the main
part. This again was a memorable performance.

Religion and ethics have formed the basis for three informal
debates, all of which have been well attended. The standard of
speaking was always commendably high, particularly one remembers
a remarkable tour de forceby Randell (VI) defending the
thesis that justice and reason are the sole criteria for the
moral life.

There have been two talks on great painters, the subjects
being El Greco and Van Gogh, both well illustrated and full of
detail. A talk on the operas of Mozart, a detailed appreciation
of the architecture of a small area of Eastbourne, and a survey
of furniture and its design were all talks calculated to appeal
to a wide range af taste.

A consideration of the life and influence of Socrates with
readings of one of the dialogues was well attended at the end of
this term.

By the time this magazine has appeared we will have reverted
to our weekly meetings on Tuesdays. I do hope that those who are
not sure whether they will come or not will at least make the not
considerable effort of coming along to two or three meetings.

All senior boys must realise that this Society was not formed
for the edification of the staff but to broaden the interests and
widen the horizons of the more perceptive senior boys.

Without proper support this Society, indeed no Society, can
hope to flourish. I can only repeat that all boys in the VI and V
Forms are eligible and welcome.
P.G.A.G.

YOUNG FARMERS' CLUB

MEMORY, less reliable than Minute Books, fastens on four events
as outstanding in the past year.

The annual County Rally was held at Firle in May. The club
leader, busy acting as understrapper to Mr. Clarke in the rural
craftwork classes, was not too busy to notice that many members
were deeply involved in competitive classes and exhibits.
Participation is perhaps more important than success, but the
school was again placed third in the Junior Cup; a particularly
pleasing result, as the work involved was very largely that of
individual members in their spare time.

The club's visit to the Sussex County Show at Haywards Heath
in July was made jointly with our visitors from Blois. At the
time it seemed memorable chiefly for the depth of the mud churned
up on the previous day, but no doubt the wide range of
agricultural machinery and the numbers of pedigree livestoek on
view left a more lasting impression.

Another party visited the Dairy Show at Olympia in October.
This was outstanding, not only for its livestock and machinery
exhibits, but for its excellent presentation of a wide range of
home-grown food to the general public. Indeed, most members seem
to have spent their day sampling cheeses and pork pies!

Finally, the Christmas Tea Party saw our trenchemnen again
well to the fore. The invitation to bring gramophone records
served to illustrate a sharp division of musical opinion, and
there is obvious scope for a record evening in future
programmes.
K.H.

THE LIBRARY

DURING the year we have seen the completion, at last, of the
reclassification of reference books under the decimal system.
This work has taken two years to complete but has improved the
general efficiency of the library with the larger number of books
we now have. In July, 1958, Adams, Hollands and Norman left for
University, all having put a lot of work into running the
library, for which we are most grateful. Mr.Lee also left after
three years in the school. It was through his experience and
energy that we were able to institute so many radical changes in
the library which have vastly improved it. Mr.Small has filled
the position vacated by Mr.Lee. The librarians for the year are
Coe, Müller and Gibson, with A.M.I.Paris and D.G.Jones as
library prefects.
A.M.I.P.

BLOIS EXCHANGE, 1958

THE annual school visit to Blois took place between Aprnl l4th
and 28th. Accompanied by Messrs. Mould and Lee, over thirty
members of the school, ranging from the Fourth to the Sixth Form,
embarked on the Arrowmanches at ten o'clock on a cheerful
but blustery morning, and though assured that "it would be better
on the other side", found the sea getting progressively rougher
as the crossing continued. Several members looked not only as if
they wished to die, but just about to do so; all survived,
however, and the long train journey to Paris gave time to recover
before tackling the terrors of rush-hour on the Metro.

The party was met at Blois with the generous hospitality that
the ten years of these exchanges have led us to expect. Four
senior members of the party were already in the town, having come
over a fortnight before under an experimental whole month
exchange, and a busy programme of excursions and visits had been
laid on by the authorities of the Lycee Augustin Thierry. In
between these, which included a backstage tour of France's
largest marshalling yards at St. Pierre des Corps and several
coach trips to local chateaux, some members spent so much time in
the renowned establishment of "Aux Caves" that one wonders how
the proprietor gets by between visits.

The highlight of the fortnight was a whole day's sightseeing
in Paris and Versailles, which entailed getting up at five in the
morning.

As the grey cliffs of Dieppe faded behind us to mark the
conclusion of this, the eleventh Blois exchange, one could quite
see what it is in these visits that draws many peaple back year
after year to take part in them.
P.F.B.H.

GALLIC INVASION - 1958

A SMALL advance guard of the French party arrived on July 2nd for
a month's stay in Lewes, and the main body of 30 Blésois
in the care of Messieurs Piolé and Mayault landed at
4.20pm on July l5th after a fairly calm and sunny crossing.
Summer weather returned next morning, however, for the customary
tour of Lewes, and the party was lucky to escape drowning on land
in the torrential downpours it met between Southover and the
Castle. In the afternoon it was thought proper to give
first-timers from Blois a talk on the school and its curriculum,
with a conducted tour of the buildings where they subsequently
seemed rather less loth than usual to attend classes.

On the Thursday we combined with the Young Farmers' Club in a
trip to the County Show at Haywards Heath, and the first week's
activities ended on the Friday with a circular tour by coach via
Crawley New Town, Gatwick Airport and West Sussex, with a sea
bathe at Worthing and return along the coast road.

Apart fram attending school occasions such as the Bec Match,
the Swimming and Athletic Sports, the party made a conducted tour
of the Parker Pen Company's factory at Newhaven on the Tuesday of
the second week, with the usual trip to Londan a day later when
the party divided into two for sightseeing.

Newcomers to England had the traditional walk from Victoria to
London Bridge via Trafalgar Square, Fleet Street and the Bank
whilst the rest followed a fresh itinerary from Waterloo Station
across the bridge and through Covent Garden to Piccadilly and
Regent Street.

Once again the Mayor of Lewes received the party very
graciously at the Town Ha1l; his speech of welcome was
interpreted by Monsieur Piolé, after which there was a
lengthy inspection of the Visitors' Book, the silver and other
treasures of the Mayor's Parlour.

Most of the Blois party attended the Blois-Lewes Dance on July
26th, and Monsieur Piolé found it gratifying to meet not a
few Old Boys who had been to Blois in their school days, and in
some cases paid return visits since. As 1959 will see his last
visit to us in an official capacity, owing to his retirement, I
have no doubt there wi11 be many other O.L.s who will wish to
give him "un shake-hand" in July next.
H.E.P.

THE "FRENCH PLAYS" AT THE DOME,
5th November, 1958

BY various means of transport the Modern Sixth arrived at the
Dome to see "La Troupe Francaise" produce two Plays: "La Malade
Imaginaire" by Molière and Beaumarchais' "Barbie de
Seville".

The company gave a lively and thoroughly stimulating
exposition of Beaumarchais' finest creation, and although the
story was already known to many through the famous opera, the
escapades and careful ruses of the romantic Figaro and the
pleasing acquiescence of Rosine to the entreaties of her unknown
lover made the Play enjoyable even if it was not fully
comprehensible. There was indeed some difficulty in understanding
the Play because it is essential in such drama that the plot
should unravel with the utmost speed and the actions of the
players appear to be aroused by the spontaneity of pure love. The
interval between the Plays was of considerahle length and after a
first-class buffet lunch, amusement was sought farther afield.
However, the party returned, refreshed for the afternoon and
enjoyed a somewhat edited production of "Le Malade Imaginaire".
It is the story of a wealthy bourgeois who is convinced he
suffers from numerous maladies. It is Molière's last Play
and embodies those features which have made him such a famous
seventeenth century dramatist. The Play is not only a comedy, it
is a rather philosophical study and meticulous observation of
human foibles. Molière was a merciless critic of men and
he chose to satirise one branch of society in particular in this
Play - the medical profession.

By the time the Play had finished the rain had stopped and the
Modern Sixth returned to Lewes with the music of French ringing
in their ears. However, they were not so imbued with learning as
to abstain from participation in the annual barbarities of the
"fifth".
G.N.

BASKETBALL CLUB

INVENTED in 1891, in U.S.A. by Dr. Naismith, basketball today
is played in fifty-four countries. It seems strange that
basketball is taking such a long time to gain popularity in this
country, but each year sees an increase in the number of clubs
and leagues in the British Isles, and one day it will take its
place among the major sports of the British people.

The school club has to be restricted to sixteen to twenty
members of the Senior Forms. These members have practised
together and are steadily developing into good team-players, who
play with speed and vigour and have the qualities to make a very
strong team.

In the Staff v. Boys match on November 28th, the Staff
(including R. Cosham) won by 40 points to 24. The Boys' team did
not combine as well as they have done in practice, and the return
match next term may produce a closer result.
D.M.

OLD BOYS' NOTES

THE following news items concerning Old Boys have been
received since our last issue:

Patrick Read, who left in 1943, is doing a two-year tour of
Kenya as representative of a firm which manufactures machinery
for processing coffee.
Freddie Cosstick varies schoolmastering at King's College School,
Wimbledon, with writing for "The Times" - seven rugger match
reports and two other articles in December alone - and now a
trial commentary on the Varsity match for the BBC. He is
practising with a tape recorder.
Congratulations to Derek Burden, in a curacy at Mitcham, on the
birth of a daughter.
Ivor Churches is enjoying his work as a lecturer in Chemistry at
a Yorkshire Technical College. Previously he was with
I.C.I.
Eric Barfoot - Flight-Sergeant - has been posted in the R.A.F. to
Aden where Trevor Richardson was a L.A.C. on Natianal
Service.
J.Reeve, who left in July, is a Metropolitan Police Cadet and
plays for the Cadets XV at rugger. He finds work varied and
interesting. Pat Goodsell has been accepted as an Ordination
Candidate when he leaves the Navy.
Michael Short sent us an interesting account of his life in the
University of Pennsylvania.

Clive Metcalfe has obtained a post in the Inland Revenue. His
uncle, Roy, also an Old Boy, is in the County Planning Dept , and
has recently obtained a London External Degree in Geography.
Stout effort.
Congratulations to Cyril Newman at Merton. He is President of the
Oxford Law Society (494 members) and at the annual dinner, whieh
took place at the Middle Temple, he "replied" for the Society.
Two judges were among the proposers.
Jack Burgess is now a qualified Notary Public and a partner in
the firm in London which he joined on coming down from
Oxford.
Clive Perry, after Oxford, is head of the Geography Dept. at
Cranwell. In the spring he is leading a party of Cadets on a
potholing expedition to Yugoslavia.
A.V.N.Rogers is an Air Traffic Controller in the Ministry of
Transport and Civil Aviation. He considers his job well paid and
interesting. Michael Bookman has returned from Kenya where he has
spent five years on agricultural education.
Colin Dolloway has returned to Rhodesia on a three-year tour,
again engaged in pest control.

David Deacon has moved from London to Gloucester in the course of
his engineering apprenticeship.
Charles Hutton, Ministry of Supply, has moved to Leeds.
Denis Wickham (1930) visited the school. He lives at Grays,
Essex, and is a Borough Librarian.
Jim Thornley removed a patient's stomach at the Middlesex
Hospital during one of the worst of the August thunderstorms. He
claimed that the patient was doing well. Jim is returning to
Cambridge for a course at Addenbrooke's Hospital.
John Sayers, who left in 1953, is in the Royal Canadian Air
Force.
John Bailey studied at the Westminster Catering Sahool, did
National Service in Cyprus and North Africa, obtained an
appointment at the Catering Office of the Pullman Company and is
now assistant to the general manager of a catering firm which
supplies 600 staff canteens of various large concerns.
We were unable to attend the wedding of Gerald Bean (Heathfield)
to Maria Rosaria Silvestro in Rio De Janeiro nor the reception
afterwards at the house of the bride's parents.

Reg Voice has joined Stan Pilbeam in Northern Rhodesia. Stan
thinks Reg, as an accountant, will be kept busy because the
Government has decided to take stricter measures concerning
Income Tax.
Stan Pilbeam, as Government Pathologist, is busy because the
Africans murder each other "with gay abandon". He states that the
native regards wives as expendable and he had nine murder cases
at which he was about to give evidence.
Barry Booth, who left in July, has accepted a post in the Mining
Research Department at Isleworth. Objective? Preventing dangerous
concentrations of dust.
John Halford, after taking his degree at Leeds, is now pursuing
the course for a diploma in Education.
Graeme Martin, also at Leeds, has obtained a degree in Cotton
Technology and is doing researah there. When he wrote, he was
working in vacation in the family business in Scotland selling
tweeds "to unsuspecting Americans".
John Turner, who was manager of a hotel in Evesham, decided that
a hotel was not the place to bring up a young family and is now
an Insurance Inspector at Yelverton, Devon.
A.L.James has qualified as a doctor.

Malcolm Cooper at St. Peter's Hall, plays tennis, cricket and
rugger for the College and acted in a production af Strinberg's
"The Father".
Paul Bishop is President of the J.C.R. at St. Catherine's,
Oxford.
Rodney Michell is senior medical registrar at St. George's
Hospital. His brother Brian resides in Paris sharing his time
between music and teaching English.
J.P.Axell obtained his diploma in Civil Engineering at Brighton
Technical College and is gaining the necessary three year's
practical experience to become an Associate member of the
Institute.
Bruce Charman is Secretary of Newport Hospital, Isle of Wight.
Ross Wells, having finished at Oxford, is teaching at the City
Grammar School, Chester.
Jimmy Horstcraft has returned from Hamburg University where he
has been researching for a Ph.D. and is at Southampton. With him
as students there are
John Fennor, John Cooper and John Price.
Ernest Hill is still an Education Officer in the R.A.F. at
Catterick.
L.F.Martyne, who left during the war for an apprenticeship with
Messrs. Ruston & Hornsby, Lincoln, gained a B.Sc. degree and
qualified A.M.I.Mech:E. After an appointment at Slough he is now
Chief Research Engineer in a London firm.

Paul Turton, who was a curate in Birmingham, is now in charge of
a church in Livenpool.
E.D.Sutton is Assistant Econamic Adviser to the Bank of Montreal.
Roland Hill left in 1934. He was commissioned during the war and
afterwards became an Accountant with the Nyasaland Railways. Now
he is Administrative Officer to the Police Training School in
Tanganyika. When he wrote, he was about to ride in a couple of
races of the Tanganyika Turf Club.
Derek Arms is engaged as a Civil Engineer in the construction of
the St. Albans by-pass.
Colin White has been serving as an engineer on HMS Gambia,
flagship of the East Indies Fleet. He wrote from
Trincomalee.
John Dewdney wrote from a Territorial Camp. He is a Major in the
R.E. In civil life he is still with British Railways in the
Traffic Costing Service concerned with the economics of railway
operations.
Roy Stevens has been appointed a lecturer in the Department of
Education at Leeds University.
Bill Arnold has bought larger premises for his building business
in Bournemouth.

Dick Faulkner is a director of a building trade supply firm at
Isleworth.
Colin Wadey wrote from Uganda. He is about 60 miles from Kampala
and is a Field Officer in charge of the agriculture of an area
about as big as East Sussex.
David Caton wrote from St. Bede's College, Umtata. He is on the
staff of a Theological Co1lege which prepares African natives for
ordination.
J.S.Nicholson is Second Engineer on M.V. Eminence,
Merchant Navy.
Tony Killick of our old Technical Section, went to Ruskin College
on a T.U.C. Scholarship. He obtained the Oxford Diploma in
Economics and Political Science and has now been accepted at
Wadham College to read for a degree in P.P.E.
Bryan Parker is at Westminster Bank Head Office and has seen a
lot of Gerald Filtress there.
Robin Allfrey has been engaged in Natianal Service after taking
his degree in architecture at Liverpool.
Paul Lyons has obtained a post with the Mercantile Bank Ltd. as
an Eastern Trainee.
John Woolmore is teaching at Cheltenham College, as is David
Pincott at Colstons School, Bristol.

John Hersee, after four years teaching at Sheffield, is going to
Clifton College to teach Maths.
John Towner, before going to Brasenose, spent eight months in
France with the Abbé Pierre organisation rescuing
down-and-outs" and alcoholics.
H.G.Green, who works for the Bank of Montreal, wrote to us from
Prince Albert, a town af 20,000 and the home and constituency of
John Diefenbaker, the Canadian Prime Minister.
Bill Manton wrote to us from a hospital at Watford where he is a
M.O.
Bob Ford is still on the staff of the Forces Schoal at Hamm,
Germany. They too have recently acquired a chapel.
Bernard Beetensen expects to take his degree at Bishops
University, Quebec, next summer and then to pay a visit to
England after an absence of six years.
Ken Perkins has completed the Staff College course at Quetta and
has returned for a period of soldiering at home.
Tony Cottingham has passed out from Cranwell and is engaged to be
married. Congratulatians.
Don Smith plays for Lewes at rugger and teaches at
Newhaven.

Albert Hallet is still pursuing an apprenticeship with Messrs.
Avro's in Lancashire. He has managed to get trips in Vulcans and
Shackletons.
D.W.Hazeldon is working in the G.E.C. research laboratories at
Wembley and bas had these with him: M.Short - now at Pennsylvania
University - , R.W.Taylor and Graham Coles.
S.B.Taylor states he had great difficulty in deciding on a career
but is very happy as an assistant charge engineer at a new
electricity generating station at Greenwich. Route? Brighton
Tech., Battersea Power Station, Beckenham Power Station,
Greenwich.
E.C.Hill and Sammy Gates (Cantab), C1ive Perry and John Humphry
(Oxan) and F.E.Wood (Southamptan) all hold commissions as
Education Officers in the R.A.F.
David Wood has finished a Merchant Navy apprenticeship but hopes
to get an appointment with the Kuwait Oil Company.
Michael Landen has been teaching in Prep. Schools since coming
down from Oxford but may enter Canadian Government Service.
David Swaffer is a Deputy Housemaster at Wallingford Farm
Training Schoal for "deprived" children and likes the work.

G.R.Cooke, who left twenty years ago, is on the advisory staff of
the Midland Electricity Board.
K.J.Yates is a research chemist for Dunlops, Birmingham, in
emulsion paint and plastics.
Brian Payne is in the Metallurgical Dept. of Messrs. Humber,
Coventry, and has played for Rootes R.F.C. for the past five
seasons.
Christopher Allan is using his mathematical degree gained at
Oxford on problems in guided missiles at Armstrong Whitworths,
Coventry.
Ken Hills seems to fly everywhere from Ghana to Guatemala
promoting the overseas sales of Messrs. Ginns' publications.
Which reminds us that Dick and Phillip Camplin called to see us.
Dick was about to do a world trip for Unilevers. He is a director
of one of their subsidiary companies.
R.W.Thomas is Senior Chemistry Master at Ashford Grammar School,
Kent.
M.V.Wells is Medical Registrar at Derby Royal Infirmary.
Eric Gordon is still a District Officer in the Colonial Service
in Kenya.
Martin Bolland is in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Graham Wood has left Malaya for Sarawak, where he is manager of
three branches of Messrs. Harper Gilfillan & Co. There is no
Income Tax there !
Ian Sloane has returned to the Foreign Office after National
Service in Germany.
John Brown is a parson, now in Bolton.
Lastly, we thank all Old Boys who sent us Christmas cards.

CAMBRIDGE LETTER

January 2lst, 1959.

Dear Sir,
We note with great satisfaction that as a result of the labours,
adbeit disconcerted, of yourself and the authorities, you are now
the possessor of some walls. Inspired by this thought, it has
occurred to us that the second initial of your signature might
well stand for either Romulus or Remus. Not that we wish to
suggest by this that you have ever floated other than willingly
down the Cherwell, or that at Oxford you were subject to the
loving care of wolves, rather than bulldogs; but we do submit
that, given the choice of names, Romulus would appear, in view of
your achievement, to be the more likely of the two. We therofore
trust that you have by now succeeded in suitably stifling the
Remus in authority.

However this may be, we feel it is time to broach the subject
of our ietter in turning the limelight first on Diarmid
McLaughlin, who has been engaged in a less substantial kind of
building - namely behind the scenes at the University Dramatics
Club. He has in addition been devoting much thought to the
decoration of his rooms, possible speeches at the Cambridge Union
and even occasional work. We understand that Paul Wright has been
emulating him in this last respect, as well as acquiring some
reputation as a gastronome - dare one say a gourmet? But we have
not ascertained whether as such he owes anything to the
agricultural efforts of Brian Honess, who was sent here from
Reading by the Colonial Service for a year's education. Jimmy
Lohoar, another farmer, has made a remarkable comeback to health
and in particular to the College rugger field. In this, John
Wilkinson maintains a steady effort to keep him within the
traces, while he himself has taken part in the University
Freshers' Trial.

In contrast, the remaining scientists have indulged in more
leisurely pursuits. Deric Shrubb - a Major Scholar - and Richard
Adams, although both engineers, nevertheless surrender at
week-ends to the joys of unpowered water transport with the
University Cruising Club, while Richard Scott, a chemist,
harnesses the physics of muscle-power for punting. As for Stephen
Fleet, to whom, as a physicist, this recreation is more
appropriate, he is ostensibly doing research - particularly into
the question of whether a crashhelmet constitutes an article of
academic dress - as well as lavishing the fruits of his training
on others. Having acquired, through a different kind of training,
a modicum of co-ordination at the organ-consale, Peter Britton,
despite his endeavours to apply this to aeroplanes in Canada,
finally arrived at Cambridge intact. He now regales his donnish
neighbours with music and electronics.

It might occur to you, Sir, on comparing this with previous
letters, that we at Cambridge are getting nowhere fast. Aware,
however, that this is a quality often attributable even to the
surest forms of transport, we would remind you that - to return,
inappropriately, to our analogy, Rome was not built in a day. But
then, admittedly, the Romans had seven hills to contend with,
unlike, at Cambridge.

Your assiduous scribe,
"GRANTA".

{Oxford, the home of lost causes, has failed to produce a letter
for this edition - Editor}.